Q (radio station)
Encyclopedia
Q Radio is an online
and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with Q magazine. The Station forms part of the Bauer Passion Portfolio
.
and Capital Radio
, and Top of the Pops
Executive Producer Ric Blaxill
was recruited to form a full station.
Q Radio launched on DAB in London on 2 June 2008 with a full schedule including Samanthi (formerly of XFM and BBC2's "Desi DNA") and comedian and 2008 If.comeddies
nominee Russell Kane
. Co-founder of Acid Jazz
records Eddie Piller
also presented a weekly show and musician Billy Bragg
presented a monthly show.
The station launched with a Coldplay
interview with Samanthi on QPM, where Chris Martin
revealed that the band planned to release sessions with Kylie Minogue
. Other guests in interview and sessions between June 2008 to March 2009 included Lily Allen
, Kim Deal
, Jane Birkin
, Pete Shelley
, The Futureheads
, The Young Knives
, White Lies
, Ladyhawke
and We Are Scientists
. The first song played live on the station was Rocks by Primal Scream
.
The station relaunched in April 2009 with a new playlist and all-new line up. Now based at Kerrang! Radio's headquarters in Birmingham, West Midlands, Q Radio is run by Kerrang! Radio's programming team who forged closer links with Q Magazine in a bid to bring it closer to the focus on new music, broad range of music genres and content found in the monthly publication. The playlist itself is managed by James Walshe and Loz Guest, both of whom also run the playlist at Kerrang! Radio in Birmingham.
In May 2009, the station was removed from the Sky Digital EPG (along with sister stations Kerrang, Heat and Smash Hits) as part of cost cutting measures by parent company Bauer Media..
In May 2010 it was taken off DAB. Although cost of carriage on DAB was suspected, the reason given by Bauer Media was: "At this stage of its development, it has become clear that Q Radio is best served by having national coverage on Freeview and online.”
Internet radio
Internet radio is an audio service transmitted via the Internet...
and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with Q magazine. The Station forms part of the Bauer Passion Portfolio
Big City Network
Bauer Place & Bauer Passion are the names given to two radio networks owned and operated by Bauer Radio. Place incorporates 36 local radio stations in Northern & southern England and Scotland while Passion incorporates six national or semi-national music genre stations.The main rival networks are...
.
History
After running for several years as an online digital jukebox, former controller of BBC 6 MusicBBC 6 Music
BBC 6 Music is one of the BBC's digital radio stations, was launched on 11 March 2002 and originally codenamed Network Y. It was the first national music radio station to be launched by the BBC in 32 years....
and Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
, and Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
Executive Producer Ric Blaxill
Ric Blaxill
- Career :From 1988 to 1994, he was Producer/Senior Producer at BBC Radio 1, and 1994 to 1997, he was a Producer and Executive Producer, BBC 1's Top of the Pops, and later A&R Director for Independiente Records....
was recruited to form a full station.
Q Radio launched on DAB in London on 2 June 2008 with a full schedule including Samanthi (formerly of XFM and BBC2's "Desi DNA") and comedian and 2008 If.comeddies
If.comeddies
The Edinburgh Comedy Awards, formerly the Perrier Comedy Awards, are presented to the best shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Established in 1981, they are the most prestigious comedy prize in the United Kingdom. The awards have been directed and produced by Nica Burns since 1984...
nominee Russell Kane
Russell Kane
Russell Kane is an English writer, comedian, actor and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US. He has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the main prize in August 2010...
. Co-founder of Acid Jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
records Eddie Piller
Eddie Piller
Eddie Piller is an English DJ and record label entrepreneur.Starting his career in the 1980s as a part of the English mod revival, Piller launched the underground fanzine Extraordinary Sensations and operated as a DJ and concert promoter. In 1985, he started the Countdown Records label, through...
also presented a weekly show and musician Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
presented a monthly show.
The station launched with a Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
interview with Samanthi on QPM, where Chris Martin
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin is an English song-writer, who is the lead vocalist, pianist and rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay. He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow.-Early life:...
revealed that the band planned to release sessions with Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
. Other guests in interview and sessions between June 2008 to March 2009 included Lily Allen
Lily Allen
Lily Rose Beatrice Cooper , better known as Lily Allen, is an English recording artist and fashion designer. She is the daughter of actor and musician Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative...
, Kim Deal
Kim Deal
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of the alternative rock band the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist, adopting the stage name Mrs...
, Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin
Jane Mallory Birkin, OBE is an English-born actress and singer who lives in France. In recent years she has written her own album, directed a film and become an outspoken proponent of democracy in Burma.- Early life :...
, Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley
Pete Shelley is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist, best known as the leader of Buzzcocks.-Biography:...
, The Futureheads
The Futureheads
The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
, The Young Knives
The Young Knives
Young Knives are an English indie rock band from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. The name is based on a misunderstanding of "young knaves", which was found by the band when rummaging through a book....
, White Lies
White Lies (band)
White Lies is an English indie rock band from Ealing, London. Formerly known as Fear of Flying, the band consists primarily of Harry McVeigh , Charles Cave , and Jack Lawrence-Brown...
, Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke is a 1985 fantasy film directed by Richard Donner, starring Matthew Broderick, Rutger Hauer and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film marked the second 20th Century Fox film to be co-produced and co-released by Warner Bros.. The first was The Towering Inferno; this time Warner got the U.S...
and We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
. The first song played live on the station was Rocks by Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
.
The station relaunched in April 2009 with a new playlist and all-new line up. Now based at Kerrang! Radio's headquarters in Birmingham, West Midlands, Q Radio is run by Kerrang! Radio's programming team who forged closer links with Q Magazine in a bid to bring it closer to the focus on new music, broad range of music genres and content found in the monthly publication. The playlist itself is managed by James Walshe and Loz Guest, both of whom also run the playlist at Kerrang! Radio in Birmingham.
In May 2009, the station was removed from the Sky Digital EPG (along with sister stations Kerrang, Heat and Smash Hits) as part of cost cutting measures by parent company Bauer Media..
In May 2010 it was taken off DAB. Although cost of carriage on DAB was suspected, the reason given by Bauer Media was: "At this stage of its development, it has become clear that Q Radio is best served by having national coverage on Freeview and online.”
Current presenters
- Vicky Warham - Weekday mid-mornings
- Danielle Perry - Q Drive, Live from Q-HQ
- Andy Westcott - Weekdays 6pm-10pm
- Alex James - Weekdays 10pm-Midnight
- Daniel Black - Bellends
- Paul Rees - The Q Show
- Lord Jake Thomson - Saturday Late Show & a Right Melon
- Matthew RuddMatthew RuddMatthew James Rudd is an English Radio Personality and disc jockey.-Early career:Rudd started his working life as a journalist, working for a news agency. He began his radio career as an amateur on the local hospital radio station in Hull, Kingstown Radio...
- Q the 80s - Caroline Beavon - New to Q, Saturdays 6pm - 9pm
- Simon James - The Food of Love, Mondays 9pm-10pm
- Phil MacKenzie - Saturday Afternoons
Past presenters
- Samanthi
- Russell KaneRussell KaneRussell Kane is an English writer, comedian, actor and media personality. In June 2006, he became the face of digital station Five US. He has been nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, winning the main prize in August 2010...
- Eddie PillerEddie PillerEddie Piller is an English DJ and record label entrepreneur.Starting his career in the 1980s as a part of the English mod revival, Piller launched the underground fanzine Extraordinary Sensations and operated as a DJ and concert promoter. In 1985, he started the Countdown Records label, through...
- The Broken Hearts
- Billy BraggBilly BraggStephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
- David QuantickDavid QuantickDavid Quantick is a freelance journalist, writer and critic who specialises in music and comedy.-Career history:...
- Mark Somers
- Lynsey Hooper
- Adam Catterall
- Phil Marriott
- Allan Lake
- Dave Everly
- Ted Kessler
- Jim Coulson
- Dan Morfitt
- Simon Hill
- Craig Pilling
- Luke Wilkins